Summary

Farley asks Ootek about the wolves’ behavior, and he explains that a caribou is aware that it can outrun a wolf and therefore has little to fear. The wolves, also aware of this fact, seldom even try and, instead, occasionally rush a herd to see if they can expose a weak or wounded member. It is because of the wolf that the caribou is strong, he reminds Farley. With this in mind, Farley watches again, and he sees that the pattern repeats itself again and again. Then he notices a pattern. The wolves never test a herd of bucks in their prime at the peak of their conditioning, preferring instead to approach the herds with mixed does and fawns where natural selection hasn’t had a chance to play out as yet. The wolves seem to employ an economy of effort, never recklessly...